Li Yueru (Chinese: 李月汝; born 28 March 1999) is a Chinese basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Galatasaray of the Women's Basketball Super League (WBSL) and the Chinese national team.[1] Li was drafted in the third round of the 2019 WNBA draft by the Atlanta Dream.[2]
Professional career
China
Li started her professional career in China. She played for the Guangdong Dolphins (2015–2020) and Inner Mongolia (2020–2023) of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA).
WNBA
Chicago Sky (2022)
Li was originally drafted with the 35th pick by the Atlanta Dream in the 2019 WNBA draft. However, she continued playing in China and never joined the Dream. On February 5, 2022, her rights were traded to the Los Angeles Sparks along with Chennedy Carter in exchange for Erica Wheeler, a 2023 WNBA draft first-round pick and a 2022 WNBA draft second-round pick.[3] Li was subsequently traded on March 30, 2022, to the Chicago Sky in exchange for Lexie Brown.[4] Li joined the team late, as she was waiting for permission from the Chinese Basketball Association,[5] and did not see a lot of playing time during the season. She left the Sky at the end of July to join her national team in preparation for the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.[6]
Li missed the 2023 WNBA season due to an injury suffered during overseas play.[7]
Los Angeles Sparks (2024)
On February 21, 2024, Li was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks along with Julie Allemand and a 2025 WNBA draft third-round pick in exchange for a 2024 WNBA draft first-round pick.[8]
Seattle Storm (2025–present)
On February 1, 2025, the Seattle Storm acquired the reserve rights to Li in a three-team trade and subsequently signed her to a contract.[9]
Turkey
Beşiktaş
Li played for Beşiktaş of the Women's Basketball Super League in the 2023–2024 season.[10]
Bodrum Basketbol
Li signed with Bodrum Basketbol for the 2024–2025 season and played there from September to November.
Galatasaray
On November 21, 2024, Li signed with Galatasaray.[11][12]
National Team career
Li participated at the 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup.[13] She compete for the Chinese national team at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where led the team in points, rebounds, efficiency and field goal percentage.[9][14][15]
Career statistics
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | RPG | Rebounds per game |
APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
TO | Turnovers per game | FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
Bold | Career best | ° | League leader |
WCBA
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015–16 | Guangdong Dolphins | 20 | 9 | 7.6 | .488 | .000 | .667 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 2.7 |
2016–17 | Guangdong Dolphins | 18 | 15 | 12.7 | .489 | 1.000 | .698 | 4.2 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 6.6 |
2017–18 | Guangdong Dolphins | 25 | 25 | 29.0 | .534 | .250 | .732 | 10.5 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 3.5 | 18.2 |
2018–19 | Guangdong Dolphins | 33 | 33 | 25.9 | .601 | .167 | .690 | 10.3 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 18.5 |
Career | 96 | 82 | 20.4 | .565 | .211 | .707 | 7.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 13.1 |
Source: WCBA[16]
WNBA
Regular season
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Did not appear in WNBA | ||||||||||||
2020 | |||||||||||||
2021 | |||||||||||||
2022 | Chicago | 16 | 0 | 5.1 | .444 | — | 1.000 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.8 |
2023 | Did not appear in WNBA | ||||||||||||
2024 | Los Angeles | 38 | 2 | 14.4 | .463 | .267 | .898 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 5.1 |
Career | 2 years, 2 teams | 54 | 2 | 11.6 | .461 | .267 | .915 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 4.1 |
References
- ^ FIBA profile
- ^ Hopkins, Christine M. (2019-04-19). "2019 WNBA Draft Analysis: Atlanta Dream leans on established experience heading into new season". Swish Appeal. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
- ^ "Dream Acquire Erica Wheeler, 2023 First Round Pick and 2022 Second Round Pick in Trade with Sparks". dream.wnba.com. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
- ^ "Sky acquire center Li Yueru in sign-and-trade sending Lexie Brown to Sparks". Chicago Sun-Times. 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
- ^ Hruby, Emma (2022-05-24). "Chicago Sky activate China's Li Yueru, release Anneli Maley". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
- ^ Kay, James (2022-08-17). "Three things you need to know heading into Chicago Sky's first-round matchup against the New York Liberty". The Next. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
- ^ "AAPI Heritage Month: Spotlighting Players in the Past and Present - WNBA". www.wnba.com. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
- ^ "Sparks Acquire Julie Allemand and Li Yueru". Los Angeles Sparks. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
- ^ a b "Seattle Storm Signs Li Yueru". storm.wnba.com. Retrieved 2025-02-01.
- ^ "Li Yueru agreed terms with Besiktas". www.asia-basket.com. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
- ^ "Li Yureu Galatasaray Çağdaş Faktoring'de!". Galatasaray S.K. November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ "Galatasaray to sign Li Yueru". www.asia-basket.com. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
- ^ 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup profile
- ^ "China announces basketball rosters for Paris Olympics". english.news.cn. Retrieved 2025-02-01.
- ^ Hirro, John Ezekiel (2024-07-24). "China Women's Basketball 2024 Paris Olympics: Full roster, schedule and more". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2025-02-01.
- ^ "中国女子篮球联赛". 3w.cba.net.cn. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
- ^ "Li Yueru WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference.
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